Last updated: January 2026
1. Introduction
Beaconbuddycircl ("we", "our", "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal data you share with us in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, EU 2016/679) and the Finnish Data Protection Act (Tietosuojalaki 1050/2018).
This Privacy Policy explains in detail what information we collect from visitors to beaconbuddycircl.com, how we use it, how we secure it, and what rights you have over your data. By using our website, you agree to the practices described below.
2. Who We Are (Data Controller)
The data controller responsible for your personal information is:
- Company: Beaconbuddycircl Innovation Hub
- Address: Eteläesplanadi 22, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +358 9 4245 7820
3. Information We Collect
We collect only the personal data necessary to deliver our services, communicate with you, and improve the website. The information we may collect includes:
- Identification data: name, surname, job title, company or organization name.
- Contact data: email address, telephone number, postal address.
- Communication content: messages, inquiries, attachments, and feedback you submit via forms or email.
- Startup submission data: business information you voluntarily submit when applying to be featured on our platform.
- Technical data: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, and time spent on pages.
- Analytics data: aggregated insights about how visitors interact with our content.
- Newsletter data: email address and consent preferences.
4. Legal Basis for Processing
Under GDPR Article 6, we process your personal data based on the following lawful grounds:
- Consent — when you subscribe to our newsletter or submit a contact form.
- Legitimate interests — for website analytics, security, fraud prevention, and improving user experience.
- Contractual necessity — when delivering services you have requested.
- Legal obligation — when required to retain or disclose information by Finnish or EU law.
5. How We Use Your Information
We use the personal data we collect for the following purposes:
- To respond to your inquiries, partnership requests, and startup submissions.
- To send you our newsletter and editorial updates (only if you have opted in).
- To improve our editorial coverage and content quality based on aggregated user behavior.
- To detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent or malicious activity.
- To comply with applicable legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations.
- To analyze traffic and improve site speed, structure, and user experience.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any third party for marketing purposes.
6. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We may share limited personal information with the following categories of trusted recipients:
- Service providers — including hosting providers, analytics platforms, email delivery services, and CRM tools that act as data processors under written agreements.
- Professional advisors — such as lawyers, accountants, and auditors when required.
- Public authorities — when required by Finnish or EU law, court order, or regulatory request.
All third parties are required to maintain appropriate security measures and process data strictly according to our instructions.
7. International Data Transfers
Our primary servers and operations are located within the European Union. Where personal data is transferred outside the EU/EEA, we ensure adequate safeguards are in place, including European Commission Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or adequacy decisions.
8. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy:
- Contact form submissions: up to 24 months after last interaction.
- Newsletter subscriptions: until you unsubscribe.
- Startup submissions: up to 36 months for editorial review purposes.
- Analytics data: up to 26 months, then automatically anonymized or deleted.
- Legal/regulatory records: as required by applicable law.
9. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including encrypted HTTPS connections, secured databases, access controls, regular backups, and staff training. While no system can guarantee absolute security, we work continuously to safeguard the information you entrust to us.
10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure proper functionality and analyze performance. For details, please consult our Cookie Policy.
11. Your Rights Under GDPR
As a data subject, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Right of access — request a copy of your personal data.
- Right to rectification — correct any inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten") — request deletion of your data.
- Right to restriction of processing — limit how we use your data.
- Right to data portability — receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Right to object — object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
- Right to withdraw consent — at any time, without affecting prior lawful processing.
- Right to lodge a complaint — with the Finnish Data Protection Ombudsman (Tietosuojavaltuutettu).
To exercise any of these rights, please email [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days.
12. Children's Privacy
Our services are intended for users aged 16 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us so we can promptly remove it.
13. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to external sites, including featured startups and partners. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites. We encourage you to read their respective privacy policies.
14. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will post the updated policy here with a revised "Last updated" date. Significant changes will be communicated via email or website notice.
15. Contact Us
For any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +358 9 4245 7820
- Office: Beaconbuddycircl Innovation Hub, Eteläesplanadi 22, 00130 Helsinki, Finland